South Sudan Army Recaptures Nasir from Insurgents with Ugandan Support, Museveni Confirms

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President Museveni and President Kiir

‎Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has confirmed that the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF), with support from Ugandan troops, swiftly defeated insurgent forces who had captured the strategic town of Nasir in Upper Nile State.

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‎In a statement delivered on Friday, Museveni praised the "rapid and decisive" joint military operation that led to the recapture of Nasir from the White Army a Nuer ethnic militia historically aligned with South Sudan's First Vice President Riek Machar during the country's previous civil war.

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‎The operation, which culminated in the town's liberation on April 17, follows its fall to the insurgents in March, triggering a sharp escalation in political tensions across the country. President Salva Kiir’s government responded by ordering the arrest of Machar, accusing him of links to the rebel offensive.

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‎Despite the 2018 peace agreement, which sought to unify armed factions under one national army, key components remain unimplemented, contributing to renewed instability. 

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‎Uganda deployed special forces to Juba in early March to reinforce security and assist the South Sudanese government in fending off rebel threats.

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‎However, the joint military response has sparked alarm from humanitarian agencies. On the same day as Museveni's announcement, reports emerged of aerial bombings in Old Fangak, Jonglei State, where a hospital operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was targeted. 

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‎The aerial strike left at least four people dead and several others injured, drawing condemnation from international observers.

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‎The United Nations has warned of a serious deterioration in South Sudan’s security and political environment, while the U.S. government has evacuated non-essential personnel from its embassy in Juba.

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‎As the situation remains volatile, analysts say the recent fighting underscores the fragility of South Sudan's peace process and the urgent need for renewed diplomatic engagement to prevent a return to full-scale civil war.

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